Perforator cap



0Q. 22, 1968 c. J. J. F'IQUET ErAL 3,406,872

PERFORATOR CAP Filed May 1, 1957 Mun/me Jv r7324;- v

United States Patent Office 3,406,872 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 3,406,872PERFORATOR CAP Claude J. J. Fiquet, Paris, and Robert Leplat, LaGarenne- Colonrbes, France, assignors to Societe dApplicationsTechniques et Iudustrielles S.A.T.I., a corporation of France FiledMay1, 1967, Ser. No. 634,948 Claims priority, applicagigrsi France, May 10,1966,

7 Claims. (01. 222-83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE a capsule or cap whichthe consumer must perforate at the moment of use.

This perforation is effected by means of a needle or any other pointedobject, scissors, nails, etc. The perforator may be included in thepacking or may be carried by the cap.

In accordance with one of these arrangements, the perforator is rigidlyfixed in a cap which is not fully screwed down because of a smallinterposed washer. In order to utilize the product, the consumer has tounscrew the cap, remove the spacing washer and then screw-down the capfully so as to cause the perforator to pass through the sealingdiaphragm which is punctured.

This solution thus makes it necessary, on the one hand for themanufacturer to add a washer to the usual screw cap, and on the otherhand the consumer is obliged to carry out a number of manipulations.These are considerable complications.

In order to obtain a simpler opening operation for the tube or flask, ithas been proposed to provide the latter with a cap, the bottom of whichis elastic and comprises a perforator needle. By pressing on the elasticbottom, the needle is forced inwards and the sealing diaphragm isperforated.

The present invention has for its object a perforator cap of this typewhich has been improved.

According to the invention, the perforator cap is characterized in thatthe membrane carrying the perforator needle is thin and deformable andis set-back with respect to the upper edge of the cap; it has acurvature which ensures its maintenance in convex or concave positions,without spontaneous change-over from one to the other.

With this arrangement, the membrane having an ini tially convex form,holds the perforator needle in a waiting position. When the membrane ispushed down, it takes a concave shape and pushes the needle whicheffects the perforation of the sealing diaphragm. The membrane remainsin this concave position, holding the needle in its depressed positionso that it serves to close the perforated diaphragm.

With a cap constructed in this way, the perforator needle is protectedagainst any accidental operation; in its. set-back position in the cap,it is protected against any clumsy shocks or handling. Only a deliberateoperation can put it into operation by causing the perforation andopening of the tube or flask. Similarly, in the perforated position, theneedle remains in a position such that it plays the part of a permanentclosure member.

Forms of embodiment of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the perforator cap mounted in its initial positionon a flask;

FIG. 2 shows the cap in the perforation or closure position;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in cross-section of an alternative form ofconstruction of the perforator cap, shown respectively in its initialposition and in the perforated position;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a further alternative form ofconstruction.

In FIG. 1, the cap covering the flask or bottle 10 comprises acylindrical or frusto-conical body 11, and its extremity is formed by athin deformable Wall 12 acting as a flexible membrane. This membrane 12is set back with respect to the upper edge 13 of the cap. It is providedat its centre with a needle or pointed pin 14.

The bottle 10 filled with the product, is closed and a closure diaphragmis provided at 15, if necessary with a guide-conduit 16.

The bottle 10, fitted, is originally delivered with the cap in which themembrane is in the position shown in FIG. 1, that is to say forming aconvex extremity.

In order to open the bottle 10, the centre of the membrane 12 isdepressed, which brings the latter into the concave position shown inFIG. 2. By this action, the needle 14 pierces the diaphragm 15 and theproduct can be extracted from the bottle 10 as soon as the cap 11 isremoved.

After use, the cap is replaced in position. The depressed needle servesto close the hole pierced in the diaphragm In the alternative form shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, the cap, screwed on the threaded end 20 of a tube orbottle, is constituted by a body 21 flared to form a bowl 22, and it isthe bottom 23 of this bowl which forms the thin deformable wall. Thiscarries the perforator punch 24, the head 25 of which forms an operatingknob. The body 21 is arranged so as to constitute an abutment 26 whichcomes into contact with the extremity of the end-piece 20. The wall 23is set back with respect to the edge 27 of the bowl 22.

The tube being filled with product, the end 20 is closed at the outsetby a diaphragm 28 and is covered by the screwed cap 21-22, shown in FIG.3. In order to open the tube by piercing the diaphragm, the head 25 isdepressed, which deforms the membrane 23, and this passes from theconvex position to the concave position shown in FIG. 4, carrying withit the punch 24 which pierces the diaphragm 28. The thin Wall 23 remainsin this depressed position, the punch 24 serving to close the tube.

In the alternative form shown in FIG. 5, the punch 24 may be providedwith a conduit 29 permitting the distribution of the product after thepunch 24 has been depressed.

The cap may of course be of the type with a screw, with a smooth fit,with notches, or may be held on its base in any desired manner. Theperforator may be moulded in a single piece with the cap or it may befixed on the deformable membrane; it may be of plastic, metallic orother material. The flexible or deformable membrane may have adome-shaped surface, as shown in the accompanying drawings, or it may beof bellows shape or it may have any other desired form.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a receptacle having an orifice closed by apenetrable closure, a cap for penetrating the closure and closing theorifice, the cap comprising a body mounted on the orifice of thereceptacle, the body having an upper edge and a thin deformablediaphragm disposed in the body in recessed relation to the upper edge ofthe body, the diaphragm having a curvature ensuring, in a concave orconvex position, its non-reversible maintenance without spontaneouslypassing from one position to the other, and a perforator member carriedby the diaphragm, said perforator member having a cross-sectionalconfiguration substantially the same as the cross-sectionalconfiguration of the orifice of the receptacle and ensuringfluid-tightness of the receptacle by jamming into said orifice,

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the perforator membercomprises a head forming a finger piece. 3. A structure as claimed inclaim 2, said perforator member having a longitudinal passagewaytherethrough. 4. A structure as claimed in claim 2, the top of said headbeing disposed below said upper edge of the body. 5. A structure asclaimed in claim 1, said perforator member having an upper position inwhich said dia- 4 phragm is downwardly concave and the side walls of theperforator member below the diaphragm are substantially upright.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 1, said diaphragm and penetratormember being integral.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 1, said orifice being defined by sidewalls of the receptacle that are substantially perpendicular to saidpenetrable closure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,721,552 10/1955 Nosik.2,829,380 4/1958 Wood 222498 X 3,172,478 3/1965 Giclas 222-83 X3,182,858 5/1965 Beaudoin 222-83 3,187,918 6/1965 Moore 222--83 X SAMUELF. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

